And that brings us to our big, giant National Craft Month giveaway – a $1000 gift card from Michaels! Think of all the amazing craft supplies you could buy with this $1000 gift card! This would be a perfect opportunity to branch out and try a new type of project. Michaels is a one-stop shop for crafters, so you can pick up so many different items at one time.

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Comments

I have never crocheted an afghan but would love to have a simple pattern to start off with and as far as my favorite pattern I knitted backpacks for my nieces and really enjoyed making them! 🙂

SKILL LEVEL: Easy +
SIZE:
About 10 x 12 in. (25.5 x 30.5 cm).
CORRECTIONS: None
MATERIALS
• 830-148 Lion Brand New Cotton Ease: Turquoise
2 Balls
• Lion Brand Knitting Needles- Size 6 [4.00 mm]
• Large-Eyed Blunt Needles
• Additional Materials
Double pointed needles size 6 (4.25 mm) , set of 5
GAUGE:
18 sts = 4 in. (10 cm) over Pattern Stitch. BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE. When you match the
gauge in a pattern, your project will be the size specified in the pattern and the materials specified in
the pattern will be sufficient. If it takes you less stitches and rows to make a 4 in. [10 cm] square, try
using a smaller size hook or needles; if more stitches and rows, try a larger size hook or needles.
STITCH EXPLANATION:
Free Knitting Pattern: Cotton-Ease (new) Super Summer Backpack http://www.lionbrand.com/cgi-bin/patternView.fcgi?80401AD=1&pdf=1…
2 of 3 6/26/2008 12:41 PM
ssk (slip, slip, knit) Slip next 2 sts as if to knit, one at a time, to right needle; insert left needle into
fronts of these 2 sts and knit them tog.
PATTERN STITCH
Rows 1 and 3 (WS): Purl.
Row 2: K1, *yo, k2tog, rep from * across.
Row 4: *Ssk, yo, rep from * across, end k1.
Rep Rows 1-4 of Pattern stitch.
FRONT
With straight needles, cast on 45 sts.
Knit 10 rows.
Next Row: K5 sts (for border) work Row 1 of Pattern st to last 5 sts, k last 5 sts (for border).
Next Row: K5 sts (for border) work Row 2 of Pattern st to last 5 sts, k last 5 sts (for border).
Continue as established, keeping first and last 5 sts in Garter st (k every st on every row) and working center 35 sts
in Pattern st until piece measures about 11 in (28 cm) from beg, end with a Row 1 or 3 of Pattern st.
Knit 10 rows.
Bind off.
BACK
Make just as for Front.
FINISHING
Sew backpack pieces together at sides and bottom.
Cord
With double pointed needles, cast on 5 sts. *Slide sts to other end of dpn and knit them, pulling yarn tightly across
the back of the work. (Do not turn work.) Repeat from * to make cord. Rep last row until cord measures 48 in. (122
cm) from beg. Bind off. Weave cord through Backpack just below top garter edge, with both cord ends emerging on
right side. Mark center point between cords. Pull cord ends through from right to wrong side of Backpack at each
lower corner. Knot cord ends securely on inside of Backpack. Weave in ends.

I have never crocheted an afghan but would love to have a simple pattern to start off with and as far as my favorite pattern I knitted backpacks for my nieces in their favorite color and really enjoyed making them! 🙂
Link to the backpack: http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/80401AD.html?noImages=

I love Lion brand cotton. The color section is really great, and the fiber is softer than other brands I’ve tried. I love using it for baby afghans. I make a lot of baby gifts for my big family! But this spring I’d like to do a summer season throw for my sofa with you cotton yarn.

When I was younger, my mother and grandmother would always be making afghans. I am left handed, and could never learn. I finally tried when I was in college. It did not look like theirs. When I saw this design today, I remembered watching my grandmother and definately want to make this afghan. Thankyou.

I seam to be either knitting or crocheting all the time these days or making gifts…I have three grandchildren now and another due any day now! The thought of a thousand dollar gift card from Michels makes me absolutely giddy! lol This is amazing because they are my favorite store….I could happily spend days shopping in their stores. They carry all my favorite things. Yes I do belive this could make this ladies whole year! Bless you all for letting me think on that thought….happy crafting to you alll!!

I learned to crochet when I was about 10 or 12 years old, while I was in Girl Scouts. I’ve made more afghans than I can count and ALWAYS make sure that if someone is having a baby, getting married, or moving into a new home, they have a nice new afghan to snuggle with!

I taught myself how to crochet right-handed even thou I’m left-handed. I have made a few afghans with a simple double crochet and single crochet combined. I’m currently making a ripple with six different colors. My daughter has already claimed it as hers. That’s the funny thing with afghans they always find a good home where they’re welcome.

I am left handed, but it was my mother, who was right handed, who taught me how to crochet.
It was hard, but i was determined! Which I’d been able to crochet right-handed, as Barb R Above mentions! Most patterns assume right-handed and some stitches are hard to figure out when you must needs reverse them!

Full Project Tutorials

In this tutorial we feature how to make horiztonal stripes on the brims. You can see right off the top of the video what the stripes look like. Remember, even though the pattern is geared with patriotic colours, you don’t need to make it the same colours. Use the tutorial and your own creativity to […]